Herbert SPENCER: Principles of Psychology. London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, 1855. Octavo, first edition, half-bound in brown calf over marbled paper with matching endpapers and block edges all around. Five raised bands on spine with gilt stamped title and author.

Pasted into to the initial papers are two letters, one from Herbert Spencer to Edward L. Youmans, a great promoter of his work in the United States, who would go on to found and edit Popular Science Magazine. The other is from Youmans to someone named Hitchcock.

Spencer's letter reads: "38 Queen's Gardens /Bayswater, W. /June 17 / 84 /My Dear Youmans, /Herewith I send you a revise with further corrections which will, I presume, reach you in time to have them made in the type before the stereotypes are taken. /Hodgson writes me word that he has obtained leave from the governing body to give a series of lectures on the Synthetic Philosophy at Cambridge. This seems a considerable concession on their part. /I am not so well as I was a few days ago; and I am going to rest a while. /Truly yours, /Herbert Spencer."

Youmans' letter reads: "New York Dec 30 '84 /My dear Hitchcock, /Transfixed by gout in my dexter pedal I have been able neither to get to the Century nor ever to your nearer place. My salycilic [sic] Hercules has not deserted me and by his help I have staved off the attack so that I have not been prevented from hobbling about but could not get outside. I hope to emerge, however, early next year. /I enclose a note of Spencer's for insertion in your copy of the psychology - like all his letters it is dictated and signed. /Indoors I find excellent for the lungs, but the inaction on the whole is against me. The plague is that our heating arrangements have not yet been got into thoroughly controllable working. /Many thanks for your kindly consideration in supplying me with those admirably wristlets. I mount them both on my left wrist at night and it is of less consequence if my arm gets uncovered and exposed to the cold. Pray drop in as you pass if there is anything to report from the outside world. /Ever yours, /E.L. Youmans"

Very Good Condition: scuffs on spine, light rubbing to covers, corners. Binding strong and square. Interior leaves very clean, no foxing, a few pages in the first chapter have underlining in pencil. The final dozen or so leaves have two small contiguous tears in the fore edge, not affecting the text. Please refer to the photographs.

We pack carefully, ships USPS Media Mail.

Enjoy!